Surfs Up Three Scenarios of Sea level Change in Bermuda Using Geographic Inquiry

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Surfs Up!Three Scenarios of Sea level Change in
BermudaUsing Geographic Inquiry

• Michele Benoit and Margaret Chernosky
• Bangor High School
• July 2006

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Geographic Inquiry phases

• Ask geographic question
• Acquire geographic resources
• Explore geographic data
• Analyze geographic information
• Act on geographic knowledge

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Ask Geographic Questions

• Can we predict the topography of Bermuda under
  three different scenarios of sea level change No
  melting of ice sheets, the melting of West
  Antarctic ice sheet and the Arctic ice cap (12m),
  and the melting of those two ice masses and the
  Greenland ice sheet (54m)?

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Acquire Geographic Resources

• Contour lines Government of Bermuda, Dept
  of Planning
  
• Buildings UTM 2000 Bermuda
  National Grid (Meters)
  
• Property Lines
• Roads
• Administrative Boundaries
• All lines
• Savage Historical Map

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How has human activity changed the topography of
Bermuda?
Explore and Analyze Geographic Data
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Bermuda Coastline Retreat 12m.West Antarctic
and Greenland Melt
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Bermuda Coastline Retreat 54mCatastrophic Melt
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Coastline Retreat 54m, displacement of human
settlement
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Act on Geographic Knowledge

• To be true inquiry - mirroring the work of
  authentic geographers it is critical to share the
  findings so that others may benefit.
  
• How do you do this?
• 1.Formally write up the findings
• 2. Oral presentation to classmates in Power Pt.

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Extensions

• Students that live near coasts may use the
  instructions to predict the landscape changes for
  their home community.
  
• Calculate the acreage lost by sea level rise.
• Explore the effects to fauna and flora,
  especially coral reefs.